Cowboys sign linebacker

The Dallas Cowboys have signed linebacker Ernie Sims to a one-year deal for the league minimum, executive vice president Stephen Jones announced Monday at the NFL owners meetings.

Sims started six of the 10 games he played in after the injury-depleted club signed him Oct. 24 last season. A first-round pick for Detroit in 2006, Sims is expected to compete for a starting job at strong-side linebacker in Monte Kiffin’s 4-3 scheme.

Jones said signing of Sims left the Cowboys with “five figures” of room under the salary cap, meaning the club likely will need to make more roster moves to free up cap space.
Dallas has already cut safety Gerald Sensabaugh and defensive end Marcus Spears to free up space.

Another option to create space would be to extend the contracts of quarterback Tony Romo and defensive end/linebacker Anthony Spencer.